Subscribe To

Tuesday, 5 April 2016

Nagorno-Karabakh 04/05/2016

Azerbaijan
has set conditions for ceasefire in the troubled Nagorny-Karabakh
region, saying that Armenia must withdraw from "occupied
territories." Meanwhile, Armenia has said it would recognize the
region's independence if the situation on the ground worsens.

"In
accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, Armenia must free
all occupied territories, and provide complete territorial integrity
and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan, recognized on
international level," head of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's
press-service Khikmet Gadzhiev said on Monday, as quoted by RIA
Novosti.

In
relation to the current situation on the confrontation line in
Nagorny-Karabakh, Baku's Foreign Minister Elmar Mamediarov had
addressed a number of international organizations, Gadzhiev said.
Letters to UN and NATO chiefs have been sent, as well as to EU High
Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, informing
them of "constant shelling of populated areas by Armenian army
and deaths of civilians," he added.

According
to the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Baku's standpoint is "peaceful,"
as it's Armenia who continues shelling Azerbaijani positions and
residential areas amid the earlier announced unilateral cessation of
hostilities by Azerbaijan.

On
Monday, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry released a statement claiming
that an intensive shelling has been launched from the Armenian side.
"In the morning fighting, three Azerbaijani servicemen were
killed. The Ministry also said that the Armenian side has suffered
big losses, but the exact numbers have not been given," head of
Sputnik agency in Azerbaijan, Aziz Aliev told RT.

He
added that according to the military's information, Yerevan is using
large-caliber weapons, including mortars and grenade launchers.

At
the same time, the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry has released footage
of its military counterattack on an Armenian troops' command post. A
video showed the destruction of the facility in a pinpoint strike.

The
Armenian Defense Ministry then said that it would deliver an
"adequate strike" should Azerbaijan continue shelling
Karabakh.

Meanwhile,
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said his country would continue to
provide safety for the people in Nagorny-Karabakh, and would
recognize the region's independence if military activities escalate
in the area.

"Being
a participant in the 1994 ceasefire agreement, the Republic of
Armenia will continue to fully carry out its obligations in providing
security for the population in Nagorny-Karabakh. Moreover, I have
tasked the Foreign Ministry to start working on a military
cooperation treaty with Karabakh," Sargsyan said on Monday, as
quoted by his press service.

Speaking
to OSCE representatives in Yerevan, the president warned that should
military action in the region continue and expand, Armenia would
"recognize the independence of the Nagorny-Karabakh republic."
He added that escalation of the conflict threatens "security and
stability not only in the South Caucasus, but also in the European
region."

Baku
plans to continue the peace talks, political analyst, Baku Western
University professor and former diplomat Fikret Sadykhov told RT.
Claiming that Azerbaijan is not the aggressor, he expressed hopes
that with the involvement of international community the conflict
would not develop into a "full-scale war." During the two
days of the conflict escalation, at least 33 people have been killed
and over 200 injured, according to the UN.

A
number of countries have already addressed the two nations calling
for immediate cessation of hostilities in the region and peaceful
settlement. Both Russia's foreign and defense ministries have
contacted their Yerevan and Baku counterparts, expressing concerns
and passing President Putin's message to immediately stop violating
the ceasefire, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the media
on Monday.

Georgia
expressed its willingness to become a mediator in the Baku-Yerevan
talks, the head of its army General Staff Vakhtang Kapanadze
announced, saying that Georgia "is one of the countries who is
on good terms with the both sides."